-- bring together over 100 stakeholders and beneficiaries of veterinary
medical education, experts from within the profession, and other
interested entities to discuss what is meant by meeting society's needs
and the skills and competencies that will be required by graduating
veterinarians to meet those needs. This represents a great challenge
because the profession is so diverse with many fields of expertise, and
a wide range of responsibilities to society;
-- bring together the best minds and experts in academic veterinary
medical education to identify and share a range of new educational
models that could achieve the educational goals identified;
-- explore the relationship between education, accreditation, and
licensure to ensure that the veterinary colleges/schools can be
creative in planning their future educational programs while continuing
to meet accreditation standards; and that new graduates will be
prepared to meet licensing requirements.
"The next step for the second National Meeting on Educational Models is for
NAVMEC co-sponsors and the NAVMEC Board of Directors to approve a path
forward based on the outcomes of this meeting," said Dean Bennie Osburn,
DVM, Ph.D, University of California, Davis School of Veterinary Medicine
and Chairman of the Board, NAVMEC. "We are fully committed to developing a
sustained effort toward change in education to help students, faculty and
schools. But it takes patience and a comprehensive approach, and that's
what we're seeing here in Las Vegas at our first meeting."
Who Is Part of NAVMEC?
In order to produce as comprehensive an outcome as possible, AAVMC invited
the participation of close to 400 groups and organizations with an interest
in veterinary medical education. A total of approximately 170 groups and
individuals have joined the Consortium, including co-sponsors who have made
some financial contribution to help underwrite NAVMEC infrastructure and
other groups and individuals wishing to participate in discussions. Both
co-sponsors and partner organizations are invited to send a representative
to the three National Meetings that are planned throughout 2010.
Those groups and individuals making a financial contribution are designated
"co-sponsors." All co-sponsors have been invited to name a representative
who would not only participate at the National Meetings, but are also
invited to be part of an Advisory Panel that will help plan the National
Meetings, make recommendations concerning the organization of Consortium
meetings, regularly review the progress of the Consortium, and make
recommendations to the Consortium Board of Directors as the final "national
report" is being drafted for submission to the AAVMC Board of Directors.
The participants include AAVMC national and international member
institutions; licensure and testing groups; national, international and
state veterinary medical associations; veterinary industry; veterinary
species and specialty organizations; animal welfare/activist groups;
ancillary veterinary entities; and 13 individuals (these include past AAVMC
presidents, past AVMA Presidents, past Deans of US Colleges of veterinary
medicine and others).
How is NAVMEC Governed?
AAVMC launched NAVMEC in 2009 and is providing the leadership for this
initiative. The NAVMEC Board of Directors, representing the three pillars
of NAVMEC -- education, accreditation, and testing/licensure -- will make
final decisions concerning NAVMEC policies, procedures, and outcome.
The nine person NAVMEC Board is designed to support significant and
meaningful advances in veterinary medical education. It's the first Board
ever comprised equally of representatives of licensure/testing, education,
and accreditation -- the entities most responsible for addressing societal
needs that veterinarians should deliver.
The next meeting is scheduled for April 29 - May 1, 2010 at the Kansas City
Airport Hilton, and will focus on new educational models. The final
meeting is scheduled for July 14-16, 2010 and will return to the Oquendo
Center in Las Vegas. It seeks to offer a synthesis of the meetings and to
include implications for accreditation/licensure.
About NAVMEC
NAVMEC is the most comprehensive effort ever undertaken to create a
workforce of next generation veterinarians who are ready to address some of
society's greatest needs, taking into account educational models,
accreditation, and licensing. On the Web: http://www.navmec.org.
About AAVMC
The Association of American Veterinary Medical Colleges (AAVMC) is a
non-profit membership organization working to protect and improve the
health and welfare of animals, people and the environment by generating new
knowledge and preparing the high quality veterinary workforce needed to
meet continually changing societal demands for veterinary expertise. AAVMC
provides leadership for and promotes excellence in academic veterinary
medicine to prepare the veterinary workforce with the scientific knowledge
and skills required to meet societal needs through the protection of animal
health, the relief of animal suffering, the conservation of animal
resources, the promotion of public health, and the advancement of medical
knowledge. On the Web: http://www.aavmc.org.
Contact Information: CONTACT: Emily Deckelman cell: 202 341-6632